In simpler and more conversational terms: Among the new manga from Shonen Jump, Ichi the Witch seems particularly promising as it navigates a crucial plot development. With popular series like Jujutsu Kaisen wrapping up and others such as Sakamoto Days nearing their conclusions, fans of Shonen Jump are eagerly anticipating what will take center stage next. Amidst numerous new competitors, Ichi the Witch appears to be a strong contender to lead Shonen Jump into a new era.
Warning: Minor spoilers for Ichi the Witch up to Chapter 45!
The enchanting character Ichi the Witch burst onto the literary landscape with an endearing protagonist, meticulous narrative, and captivating world creation. The readership continues to swell, and at the current moment, the manga has amassed a total of 45 chapters. However, the recently released chapter, titled “Deceptive Appearances”, introduces a potential love interest that could potentially mark a significant mistake for Ichi, unless it’s skillfully managed to avoid any missteps.
Ichi the Witch Has Become One of Jump’s Best New Stories
In simpler terms, “Ichi the Witch” is a tale about a wild boy named Ichi who mysteriously can gain magical powers called majik in a world where males typically lack this ability. After an unexpected incident, he takes on an incredibly potent majik that even powerful female witches couldn’t acquire, making him the first male witch. So far, his travels have been joined by a group led by one of the most powerful witches, Desscaras, as well as an anxious scribe named Kugumi and the newcomer, Gokuraku.
Using the team as its base, “Ichi the Witch” has crafted a vast narrative that strikes a balance between meticulous pacing without becoming monotonous – a rarity in today’s Shonen Jump series where even high-performing titles seem increasingly focused on quick resolutions. The world of “Ichi the Witch” is expansive, and its subtly intricate sociopolitical storytelling, along with its unique magic system, make it a captivating realm just waiting to be delved into and protected from aimless wandering in future. The latest arc’s journey to another country showcased this potential brilliantly, weaving together a thoughtful tale of political machinations, personal relationships, thrilling combat, and a palpable sense of the conflict’s significance.
Ichi” is remarkably well-crafted, surprising many given Osamu Nishi’s background in comedy, specifically “Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-Kun”. While “Iruma-Kun” was delightful and entertaining, it didn’t reach the heights of ambition as “Ichi”. It seems that sharing art duties with Shiro Usazaki from “Act-Age” may have alleviated some pressure, allowing Nishi to excel in his storytelling for “Ichi”.
Ichi the Witch‘s Latest Chapter Gives Too Much Room to Stumble
Ichi’s exceptional writing style usually sets high expectations, so the unexpected twist in their latest development comes as a surprise. The recent chapter isn’t problematic per se, but it does catch us off guard: following numerous chapters filled with heartfelt sincerity and gradual character development, Chapter 45’s sudden romantic storyline raises concerns about whether Ichi might be deviating from their consistent narrative approach.
Team Desscaras’ Kugumi has quickly gained a lot of affection among fans. She’s a wonderful friend to both Ichi and Desscaras, with an adorable character design. Her struggles with anxiety and insecurity resonate strongly with many readers. Essentially, she ticks all the right boxes. In Chapter 44 of Ichi the Witch, we were left wondering where the story might head next, as it was hinted that her sister, Spica Harvest, would be attending Ichi’s witch debut party.
In a noticeable unease displayed by Kugumi, it seemed the unveiling of Spica Harvest’s plans would soon delve into the long-awaited background stories for Ichi‘s supporting characters. However, Chapter 45 surprisingly veered away from this direction, instead concentrating on Spica’s internal struggles regarding Ichi’s status as a male witch and his suitability as a potential spouse, rather than focusing on the implications of Kugumi’s role.
At first, Spica mentally dismisses Ichi as an unsavory wild boy she doesn’t want anything to do with. However, her demeanor changes drastically when she encounters him in reality. The chapter concludes with her admitting that she is drawn to him and even expresses a willingness to accept him. While this isn’t inherently problematic, if it’s not handled correctly, it might signal the beginning of issues in Ichi’s narrative structure.
Why Chapter 45 is Unexpected, and How Ichi Can Play It Right
To date, the story of Ichi has been notably heartfelt in its character relationships. There’s no hint of romance thus far, as none of the characters appear to be romance-oriented. Spica’s romantic inclinations towards Ichi might seem justified initially, given her practical motives (which serve as a platform for discussing power dynamics, social status, and privilege within Ichi’s world) and Ichi being the focus of attention at his debut party. However, as the narrative progresses, the transition from calculated pragmatism to evident infatuation seems to be setting up for an anticlimactic joke rather than a meaningful development in the story. In essence, the issue lies not with the events themselves but with how they are presented and unfolded.
As an avid fan, I can’t help but ponder about this intriguing scenario. Frankly, Ichi might find herself perplexed or even dismissive of such advances. Given the measured pace and the distinctive atmosphere of festivals typically found in action-fantasy manga similar to Ichi, it seems plausible that the debut party could serve as a stage for adversarial intrusions, intense clashes, or unexpected plot turns. In essence, this social gathering might be the catalyst for a major plot development, rather than a casual event.
In simpler terms, introducing a romantic subplot at this point in Ichi’s story seems incongruous, given the depth and complexity of relationships already established. It appears as though such a plot might be more typical of less sophisticated manga. While it’s not necessarily a problem to have a humorous or romantic interlude, the sudden introduction feels contrived and could potentially clash with Ichi’s emotional development so far.
One possible strategy for making things more optimistic is if “Ichi” chooses to surprise readers by taking an unexpected dark turn, such as with its prophecy revelation in the past. The development of Spica Harvest could serve as a ruse to make readers feel secure, only to later shock them. Alternatively, “Ichi” might use Spica’s interest to push Kugumi’s character growth forward, perhaps due to jealousy (not necessarily romantic) over the attention Spica will inevitably give Ichi.
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2025-08-13 16:26